Note from the Editor:
This article was kindly written for the SDC by member @Doctor Alan.

Formative years:

When I was a child, my parents always swore by Clarks shoes, so they took me and my two siblings to the local shop whenever we needed school shoes. The shoes must have cost more than at other places, but my mother and father always insisted that proper foot support was necessary. We certainly weren’t what you’d call ‘well off’, but my parents obviously thought that decent shoes were important.

Do you invest in quality shoes? Image Credit: Shutterstock

Symptoms:

Many years later, in about 2002, I found that every morning, I would get pains in my feet that would disappear after I’d been walking around a bit. The pain seemed to be in the arch and heel of my foot. I decided to see a podiatrist about it and was told I had ‘Plantar Fasciitis’.

This apparently is an inflammation of the fibrous tissue (plantar fascia) along the bottom of your foot that connects your heel bone to your toes. In some cases, the symptoms may reoccur during the day after prolonged standing.

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[mOiOz]

Thanks for the article Dr. Al.
I was diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitis over 25 years ago and yes, it is extremely painful!
I was told not to wear flat shoes for long periods, but always have a heel, however small, on my footwear.
It worked and I've never looked back!

 

[BellaB18]

Gee this person was very lucky. My mum put me in Clarks shoes as a child and l am certain my parents really could not afford them either. Sadly made no difference. Got to the age of 28 and down hill feet wise from there. Expensive orthotics which l cannot walk without, expensive lace up shoes needed. Constant pain crippled toes. You just get what you get in the gene pool. This person is very lucky to be able to buy theses orthotics and wear thongs which are not flat. You name it l have had every problem with feet you can have. My feet are as flat as pancakes toes cross over bunions every problems your feet can have. Done the exercises blah blah. No luck
Like l say you get what you get in the gene pool
Happy walking
Kind regards to all Vicki

 

[CliffE]

So the underlying theme I'm getting here is that Clarkes or other expensive shoes are not good for growing feet.
Yes??
Bear with me I haven't had my coffee yet.

 

[BellaB18]

So the underlying theme I'm getting here is that Clarkes or other expensive shoes are not good for growing feet.
Yes??
Bear with me I haven't had my coffee yet.

Haha haha maybe for some kids wasn't any help for me
Enjoy your coffee
Kind regards Vicki

 

[CliffE]

Haha haha maybe for some kids wasn't any help for me
Enjoy your coffee
Kind regards Vicki

Thanks I will the kettle is now boiling!

 

[DLHM]

My mum always maintained that “us kids” would wear only “good” sturdy shoes. She said feet are the foundation of the body.

 

[BellaB18]

My mum always maintained that “us kids” would wear only “good” sturdy shoes. She said feet are the foundation of the body.

Your mum was right. But sadly didn't do me any good
So true if your feet are not stable it just goes up the body mucks up the the knees hips and spine.
Keep on wearing good shoes .
Kind regards Vicki

 

[magpie1]

I have only just recently began this feeling in both feet....probably because I don't wear any footwear at home and only a pair of old thongs when I go out which is not very often....
I don't like standing for long periods nor can I walk terribly far due to some serious back problems that I have had after falling down some stairs at home about 17 years ago. Anyway I will follow this advice from Dr Al and get what he has recommended.

 

[Olliesmum]

This is plantar fasciitis and it’s management from the male perspective. For women it is even cheaper. Find a pair of shoes with a wedge heel and wear them to shift the weight onto the front of foot. If insisting on going barefoot, you must walk on your toes. There is some folklore about wearing only flat shoes with this condition, but that’s false. I feel for people that suffer from this relentlessly mainly the ones with arthritis as the alignment of bones and supportive tissue is disrupted and sometimes wearing corrective/supportive footwear just doesn’t work.

 

[Ebby]

Gee this person was very lucky. My mum put me in Clarks shoes as a child and l am certain my parents really could not afford them either. Sadly made no difference. Got to the age of 28 and down hill feet wise from there. Expensive orthotics which l cannot walk without, expensive lace up shoes needed. Constant pain crippled toes. You just get what you get in the gene pool. This person is very lucky to be able to buy theses orthotics and wear thongs which are not flat. You name it l have had every problem with feet you can have. My feet are as flat as pancakes toes cross over bunions every problems your feet can have. Done the exercises blah blah. No luck
Like l say you get what you get in the gene pool
Happy walking
Kind regards to all Vicki

Oh Vicki how awful for you ! l wear mens slippers as l have broad feet perhaps slippers might help you

 

[Ebby]

My sister and l wore good shoes which got soled and heeled at the cobblers when needed but l do remember once having a big hole in the sole and cutting out a piece of cardboard the shape of the shoe to fit in and cover it. l didn't say anything to my mother at the time

 

[BellaB18]

I have only just recently began this feeling in both feet....probably because I don't wear any footwear at home and only a pair of old thongs when I go out which is not very often....
I don't like standing for long periods nor can I walk terribly far due to some serious back problems that I have had after falling down some stairs at home about 17 years ago. Anyway I will follow this advice from Dr Al and get what he has recommended.

Made

I have only just recently began this feeling in both feet....probably because I don't wear any footwear at home and only a pair of old thongs when I go out which is not very often....
I don't like standing for long periods nor can I walk terribly far due to some serious back problems that I have had after falling down some stairs at home about 17 years ago. Anyway I will follow this advice from Dr Al and get what he has recommended.

My sister and l wore good shoes which got soled and heeled at the cobblers when needed but l do remember once having a big hole in the sole and cutting out a piece of cardboard the shape of the shoe to fit in and cover it. l didn't say anything to my mother at the time

What a good child you were. Most likely mum could not afford to replace your shoes so you improvised. Kids today have no idea.
Bless you.
Kind regards Vicki

 

[BellaB18]

Oh Vicki how awful for you ! l wear mens slippers as l have broad feet perhaps slippers might help you

On darling.got wear my lace up shoes to keep me a bit more stable. Slippers only at night before bed. To easy to fall over in slippers. You just have to put one screaming foot in front of the other. Nah a lot worse than me some people.
Thank you for your kind advice and thoughts.
Kind regards Vicki

 

[BellaB18]

I have only just recently began this feeling in both feet....probably because I don't wear any footwear at home and only a pair of old thongs when I go out which is not very often....
I don't like standing for long periods nor can I walk terribly far due to some serious back problems that I have had after falling down some stairs at home about 17 years ago. Anyway I will follow this advice from Dr Al and get what he has recommended.

Please find a good podiatrist it will change your life. Thongs are not good. You might have to wear a pair of firm shoes.
I am very sorry to hear you have been suffering for 17 years that is dreadful. Please consult a podiatrist.
Good luck.
Kind regards Vicki

 

[Ebby]

On darling.got wear my lace up shoes to keep me a bit more stable. Slippers only at night before bed. To easy to fall over in slippers. You just have to put one screaming foot in front of the other. Nah a lot worse than me some people.
Thank you for your kind advice and thoughts.
Kind regards Vicki

 

[BellaB18]

Please find a good podiatrist it will change your life. Thongs are not good. You might have to wear a pair of firm shoes.
I am very sorry to hear you have been suffering for 17 years that is dreadful. Please consult a podiatrist.
Good luck.
Kind regards Vicki

Just remembered your GP should be able to give 5 free or discounted visits to a Podiatrist
Kind regards Vicki

 

[Jan Purcell]

Im an age pensioner and get 5 visits free.

 

[Ebby]

Made


What a good child you were. Most likely mum could not afford to replace your shoes so you improvised. Kids today have no idea.
Bless you.
Kind regards Vicki

My parents were divorced and my mother worked long hours like a lot of other childrens mothers .My sister and l were just independent and we had to see to ourselves. Thanks but l don't think l was good really and looking back l have regrets.

 

[BellaB18]

My parents were divorced and my mother worked long hours like a lot of other childrens mothers .My sister and l were just independent and we had to see to ourselves. Thanks but l don't think l was good really and looking back l have regrets.

Yep l am hearing you, my parents divorced too. Like you and your sister l had to become very independent over night looking after my younger brother and sister, from the age of nine. Like all us kids who had to grow up fast back then we all did the best we could.
We were not bad kids just trying to survive. We all have regrets darling it's just being human.
Take care of yourself.
Vicki